White House science office reports United States rocket propulsion work lagging

United States Air ForceA United Launch Alliance Delta II rocket lifts off from Cape Canaveral Air Station in this U.S. Air Force file photo.

Limited demand for rocket engines could slow advanced U.S. propulsion work, according to a report released by the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.

According to the report released this week: "Despite the importance of space to government and commercial activities the U.S. space launch industry has seen a decline in launch services over the past decade . . . From 2004-2008 the U.S. shared of commercial launches was about 17 percent, compared with 42 percent for Russia, 21 percent for Europe and 18 percent for the multi-national company SeaLaunch."

From 1999-2008, rocket launches in the United States dropped by half - down from 31 to 15. The slow down in the global economy is partly to blame. U.S. government launches comprise 80 percent of that market.

Several rocket engines are under development for launch vehicles like SpaceX's Falcon 9, but lack of global demand slows research and development of rocket engines.